Dhaka’s Skies Under Allied Air Control

Inside the country, the Bangladesh–India allied forces were advancing at an unstoppable pace. Everywhere, the freedom fighters were achieving victory. The skies over Dhaka were completely taken over by the allied air force. Almost all of Pakistan’s fighter aircraft had been destroyed.

One after another, military bases were being captured by the Mukti Bahini. Areas such as Akhaura in Brahmanbaria and Kotchandpur in Jhenaidah were being liberated from Pakistani forces.

Meanwhile, outside the country, another battle concerning Bangladesh–Pakistan was taking place. A U.S.-sponsored proposal regarding Bangladesh in the UN Security Council was vetoed by the Soviet Union.

The proposal had called upon India and Pakistan to immediately implement a ceasefire and withdraw their troops. The Soviet Union presented a separate proposal in the Security Council on Bangladesh, stating that a political settlement in East Pakistan was necessary, which would bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Poland supported this proposal, and China vetoed it. Others abstained.

On this day, the Mukti Bahini captured several militarily important final strongholds in different regions of Dhaka, Comilla, Faridpur, Tangail, and Mymensingh. After capturing Kotchandpur in the Jessore sector, they advanced toward Jhenaidah. Along the way, the allied forces continued their progress and consistent success.

On this day, Pakistani naval sailors attempted to flee through the Pussur River estuary on a commercial vessel named Anwar Bax. They failed and were captured by the Indian Navy ship Rajput.

In the Sylhet sector, the Bangladesh Air Force bombed and destroyed five enemy bunkers and a dozen vehicles. Allied aircraft roamed freely in Bangladesh’s open skies. An attack was carried out on Tejgaon Airport.

Dogfights took place in the skies over Dhaka. Forgetting their own safety, people climbed onto their rooftops during daytime to watch the aerial combat. In the morning, the dogfight continued for about three hours. In Chattogram, fierce naval clashes occurred between Pakistani Navy ships and the joint naval forces. The joint forces established control in Bokshiganj of Jamalpur. Pirganj of Rangpur, Hatibandha of Lalmonirhat, Boda of Panchagarh, Phulbari, Birganj and Nawabganj of Dinajpur were liberated. Pakistani soldiers surrendered at Jibannagar of Chuadanga, Darshana, and Kotchandpur in Jhenaidah.

On this day, under the leadership of Major Jalil, the Mukti Bahini of Sector 9 liberated Satkhira and advanced toward Khulna. The Mukti Bahini under the command of Sector 8 liberated Jhingjhuli from Jashore. Then the allied forces and Mukti Bahini split into three groups and attacked Jessore. The northern group continued the attack along the Jessore–Jhenaidah road. The middle group advanced through the rice fields, passing through the Chhiter Beel area. Another group advanced on the Benapole–Jessore road in the south. The Mukti Bahini captured the Jessore–Kushtia railway junction at Kotchandpur, cutting off railway communication.

Lieutenant General Niazi ordered Pakistani forces to retreat, but it was no longer possible. The Jessore–Dhaka road had fallen into the hands of the allied forces. After crossing the Madhumati River, one division of the allied forces advanced toward Khulna and another toward Kushtia. Pakistan’s 9th Division left the Jessore cantonment and moved toward Magura.

The Bangladesh debate in the United Nations:
According to Rabindranath Trivedi’s ’71-er Dosh Mash, Belgium, Italy, and Japan presented a third proposal on Bangladesh in the Security Council on this day. The proposal demanded an immediate ceasefire and end to all military activities, but did not mention troop withdrawal. Another proposal was brought by Argentina, Burundi, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, calling for a ceasefire and troop withdrawal.

At dawn, an emergency session of the Security Council convened at the request of 15 nations, including the United States. It was decided that although the representatives of India and Pakistan could participate in the debate, they would not have voting rights. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union proposed that a representative of Bangladesh also be allowed to participate in the debate. However, China strongly objected.

Soviet representative Yakov A. Malik called the U.S. proposal one-sided and unacceptable. He said the proposal sought to blame the innocent and absolve the guilty. U.S. representative George Bush presented the proposal, stating that the Council could not adopt a policy of force. A ceasefire and troop withdrawal were essential to create an environment conducive to a political settlement in East Bengal. Pakistan’s representative Agha Shahi claimed that India had attacked Pakistan to break it into pieces.

India’s representative Samar Sen participated in the debate and said that to properly consider the issue, a representative of Bangladesh must be invited to join the discussion.

[Sources: ’71-er Dosh Mash – Rabindranath Trivedi, and Bangladesher Tarikh – Muhammad Habibur Rahman]